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Pat Paulsen was a satirical comedian who gained popularity on television in the late 1960s. The pinnacle of his career occurred in 1968 when, inspired by Gracie Allen's whimsical 1940 Presidential campaign as the Surprise Party candidate, he launched his own U.S. presidential bid on the STAG (Straight Talking American Government) ticket. This campaign began as a filmed parody featured weekly on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour," mocking the pretensions of American politicians. One memorable scene showed Pat making a campaign stop, unfolding a small ladder-stool to stand on while addressing an empty rail-yard. The presence of a camera made the empty audience irrelevant, similar to how Newt Gingrich gained attention in the 1980s by delivering speeches to an empty House chamber that were recorded by Congressional cameras, giving the impression he was confronting powerful figures who were not actually present. In this way, Pat Paulsen was a politician ahead of his time.
Patrick Layton Paulsen was born on July 6, 1927, in South Bend, Washington, a small fishing town, to Beulah Inez (Fadden) and Norman Inge Paulsen, who worked for the Coast Guard. His father was a Norwegian immigrant, and his maternal grandmother was English. The family relocated to California when he was 10. After finishing high school, Pat joined the U.S. Marine Corps during the final phase of World War II. Following his demobilization, Paulsen held various jobs including postal clerk, truck driver, hod carrier, and miner. Two roles that prepared him for his future campaign trail were as a Fuller brush salesman, going door to door with a smile, and as a photostat operator, making numerous document copies. He attended San Francisco City College using the G.I. Bill. After college, Paulsen joined an acting troupe before forming a comedy trio with his brother Lorin (who continues to perform a one-man show as Abraham Lincoln). When the trio disbanded, Paulsen went solo and established himself in the late 1950s and early 1960s, performing in clubs that featured folk music and satirical comedy inspired by Jean Shepherd and Mort Sahl. As a guitarist, he delivered comedic monologues at prominent venues like Los Angeles' Troubadour and San Francisco's Purple Onion.
His style resembled that of Tom and Dick Smothers, known as "The Smothers Brothers," whom he met while performing at The Purple Onion. Paulsen sold them two songs for $40, and the two acts became forever linked in the public's mind. When "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" debuted on CBS-TV in 1967, Paulsen was part of the cast. Long before Saturday Night Live had a news desk, the Smothers Brothers' show featured Paulsen as an editorialist, offering double-talk commentary on current issues.
Encouraged by the Smothers Brothers, Paulsen launched his 1968 Presidential campaign. While primarily comedic, the campaign also carried serious undertones. Satire was the closing act on Saturday night, but Paulsen skillfully wove satire into his comedy without the harshness of Sahl or Lenny Bruce. He mocked professional politicians, peppering his campaign speeches with blatant falsehoods, double-talk, and tongue-in-cheek critiques of the "real" candidates. His role as the "reel" candidate during the chaotic and often absurd political year of 1968 became the highlight of his career, securing his place in national consciousness and history. For his work on "The Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour," he received a special Emmy Award in 1968.
After the Smothers Brothers were canceled in 1969 due to their outspoken liberal politics, Paulsen bounced back with his own show, "Pat Paulsen's Half-a-Comedy Hour." Though innovative and very funny, the cultural climate had shifted, and the broader audience was less receptive to Paulsen's brand of satire, which exposed the flaws of American people and culture. The show was canceled after half a season.
Pat made another presidential attempt by entering the New Hampshire primary in 1972, but his moment had passed. Nevertheless, he continued to perform regularly, appearing in nightclubs, theaters, and conventions across the country. He also spent each summer at the Cherry County Playhouse in Muskegon, Michigan, which he co-owned. At the theater, he produced and starred in 25 plays, including "The Fantasticks," "The Odd Couple," "Harvey," and "The Sunshine Boys."
Pat Paulsen was too remarkable to be forgotten and was honored with the International Platform Association's prestigious "Mark Twain Award" for his exceptional contributions to comedy. Previous recipients included Art Buchwald, Mark Russell, and Steve Allen. On April 24, 1997, Pat passed away at age 69 from pneumonia after an 18-month battle with colon cancer.
